Día de los Muertos Activity & Coloring Sheets

Illustrations for this guide were created by two of Mia’s Art Team members:

Izabella Red Feather and Mateo Silva.

Symbolism Symbolism is when an image represents or stands in the place of something else, such as an idea, a person, a place, or a thing. On these activity sheets you will see symbolism, or images, representing various aspects of Día de los Muertos. Look for all of them!

• Cempasúchil is a type of marigold flower native to Mexico. Real or paper flowers are often placed on ofrendas (altars) and around the graves of loves ones. Their strong scent and bright colors are said to help guide the spirits of loved ones.

• Monarch butterflies are believed to hold the spirits of the departed. This belief stems from the fact that the first monarchs migrating to Mexico for the winter arrive right around November 1 and Día de los Muertos.

• Esqueletos y Calaveritas de azucar, or skeletons and sugar skulls, are a remembrance of those that have passed. They are brightly decorated as a playful reminder of the cycle of life, and the sugar represents its sweetness.

• Pan de Muerto, or bread of the dead, is a soft and sweet bread designed with a circle and lines to mimic the shape of a skull and crossbones. It is one of the many kinds of food placed on ofrendas, usually including items that the person liked to eat when they were alive.

• Papel picado. Every ofrenda includes representations of the four elements: water, wind, earth, and fire. Delicate papel picado, or traditional paper banners, are often included to represent the wind.

Family Discussion

How do we remember and honor our loved ones?

Think about someone you love who has passed away. What do you remember most about them? Draw some of their favorite things (food, objects, things they said a lot, activities, animals): Write or draw what you would want others to know about them:

Coloring Sheets

Use your favorite colors to fill in and decorate these Día de los

Muertos inspired designs!